Tube-bending machine.



PATENTED SEPT. '19, 1905.

G. H. REYNOLDS. TUBE BENDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED FBB.12,1904.

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No. 799,670. PATENTED SEPT/19; 1905.

H; REYNOLDS. TUBE BBNDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED TEB.12,1904.

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AYPLIGATION rum FEB.12.1904. I

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PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

G. H. REYNOLDS.

TUBE BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 313.12, 1904.

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G. H. REYNOLDS. TUBE BENDINGMACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.12,1904.

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Georgelilieynlds v m I V a K No.'799 ,670. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

G. H-. REYNOLDS.

TUBE BENDING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED H1342, 1904.

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No. 799,670. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. G. H. REYNOLDS. TUBE BENDINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12,1904. i I

'9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

No- 799.6.70. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

G. H. REYNOLDS. TUBE BBNDING-MAGHINB.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12,1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

. gu'vcnfor PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1-905.

G. H. REYNOLDS.

TUBE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE-D PEB.12,1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

EV? w 1 fim 1 3E GeorgeH 151297107619 Wfl/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, OF MANSFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF V ONE-HALF TOCRANE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept, 19, 1905.

Application filed February 12, 1904:. Serial No. 193,271.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RnYNoLDs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mansfield, in the State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new ,and useful Improvements in Tube-Bending Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for bending metal pipes in general,but especially for bending wrought metal pipes of large diameters.

Heretofore it has been very troublesome and expensive to bend pipes ofthis character having a diameter of say five inches or more, the usualmethod having been to fill the pipe with sand, plug the ends, and heatthe whole pipe before bending it, consuming much time, requiring theservices of several men and of course, involving great expense.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for bending pipes ortubes, which will dispense with the customary operations of filling thepipe with sand, and heating the whole pipe; to save the greater part ofthe labor of the operation; to permit of bending the pipe eitherentirely cold, or heated on one side only, and to construct an efiicientmachine which will be compact in itself, require a comparatively smallamount of fioor space in its operation, and act with uniformity.

I attain these objects and other advantages by means of the improvedconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts of a pipe machinefully described hereinafter, and shown in preferred form in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents my machine in sideelevation, the parts being in a proper position to receive the pipe,which is shown suspended and ready to be fed into the machine;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the pipe inserted between the bendingelements;

Figure 3 shows a similar View, with the parts in the position assumed atthe end of the bending of the pipe to an angle of ninety degrees;

Figure 4: is a similar view, with the parts in a position nearly likethat of Figure 3, but with the bent pipe removed from the machine andanother pipe approaching from the furnace ready for bending;

Figure 5- shows on an enlarged scale, a side elevation of the machine asseen in Figure 2,

v of said standards.

with apipe in the machine ready to be bent, parts being omitted andother parts broken away;

Figure 6 represents an end elevation of the machine, looking from theright hand side as seen in Figure 5;

Figure 7 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the machinetaken on line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a transverse vertical sectional view looking toward theright and taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a detail section of the segment and co-oper'ating parts anda pipe therein ready to be bent;

Figure 10 is a similar View of the same parts with a pipe bent to anangle of ninety degrees;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of my machine;

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine along the brokenline 12-12 of Figure 5, looking downward, and with parts omitted;

Figure 13 is a central vertical section of the distributing chambershown in the several figures;

Figure 14: is a central vertical section of a special form ofcheck-valve, which I employ in the pipe connection between the watersupply and the cylinder, and

' Figure 15 is a diagram view illustratinga manner of heating one sideof the pipe by electricity.

In the drawings, a indicates the base of the machine from which arisesside framing or standards 0;, 5, between which some of the operativeparts are mounted, the base being suitably secured to a floor, or itmight be a plat form, and being provided with openings through whichcertain parts hereinafter described pass below into suitably providedspaces. These standards are tied together on one side by a bar 65', andon the other side by the stop m, which is inserted between brackets Thisstop is constructed so as to relieve the frame of strain from the pistonas much as possible, and also forms a guide for the rack bar g. Inaddition to the long bolt 66 1116 stop contains two. smaller bolts a,one on each side, which are employed to more rigidly tie the stop in,place, as is clearly apparent in Figures 5 and 11; ,I also employ tiebars a on each side of the rack between the brackets and the base tostrengthen the former, by tying them down to the cylinder which operatesthe piston against the stop.

From the floor arise suitable posts in front and rear of the machineonly one of which is shown, at Z) in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, saidposts supporting longitudinal beams and rails 0 passing over the machineupon which rails travel trolleys 0 and (Z and from which depend pulleyand cable hoisting mechanism as at (Z and e for supporting and carryingthe pipes before entering and after leaving the machine, and as shown inFigure 2, for sup porting the pipe while in the machine.

In bearings in the upper part of standards a and Z) is journaled a heavyshaft 6' upon which in front of the standard a, is rigidly secured aheavy segmental die f, having in its periphery a groove f substantiallysemi-circular in cross section, to receive the pipe which it bendsaround itself and the mandrel Z, which is held in substantially a fixedposition. On the same shaft, between the standards is rigidly secured asegmental rack 9, whose teeth mesh with those of the vertical rack bar gfitted in a guide of the stop a? and mounted upon the piston h(seeFigure 7) which operates in a hydraulic cylinder h supplied through apipe 2'. A second cylinder t" having a piston and actuated by fluid fedthrough pipe j is provided for operating a pressure roller is of thesame thickness as the segment f and provided with an annular groovesimilar in shape and size to the groove in the segment f. so that whenthe segment and pressure roller are brought together, the two groovesform a space circular in cross section. The heavy lateral thrust uponthis roller Zr is provided for by a bracket Z0 secured to the base andhaving a vertical faced way on which brace 76 of head kis slidablyfitted in a manner to stiffen the head for the roller, yet permits thehead and roller to freely move up and down in its operation.

The pressure roller is normally down a short distance, and in the spacebetween it and the segment, is loosely held a plug or short mandrel Z,whose lower forward edge is beveled and rounded off, as at Z, therounding in the longitudinal line being in the arc of a circlesubstantially concentric with the periphery of the segmental die f (seeFigures 9 and 10) when the mandrel is held horizontal. This mandrel ispivotally attached to the end of a rod on which is pivotally attached atits opposite end to a screw on passing between two channel beams, whichare arranged back to back, and form the post or standard 5. Upon thescrew, on opposite sides of the post, are two nuts and washers n, bymeans of which the screw may be adjusted vertically and firmly clampedin any adjustment.

The tendency of the rolls/ t" and 12' operating as they do inconjunction with the mandrel against the pipe, is to not only preventthe'buckling of the pipe on the top side but also prevents theflattening of the pipe on the underside, and the action of the rolls onthe outside serves to lengthen that side and thus assist in the bendingoperation.

In the rear of the pressure roller k and in the same vertical plane asthe pressure roller and the segment (Z, is a supporting roller 91.grooved similarly to the pressure roller and segment, and journaled inthe head 0 of a cylind rical rod 0 mounted to slide in a cylinder 0 andadjusted vertically by means of a screw 1) projecting through the bottomof the cylinder.

Fluid under pressure from any suitable source is supplied through a pipeq to a chamber g from which it may be admitted to cylinder it throughpipe 2' by means of valve 1", and to cylinder a" through pipe 1' bymeans of a valve 0", there being a branch pipe 5 from pipe 2' and abranch pipe .9 from pipe j leading respectively to gages t and 6 wherebythe pressure in cylinders it and 2" can always be known (see Figure Themechanism thus far described is sufficient to bend a cold pipe to theextent of ninety degrees or less, and its operation is as follows:-

A straight pipe is first supplied with a plug 1) in its end bearing aring '0 and is supported from trolley c and (Z by means of a hook it toen gage said ring and a suitable loop a which encircles the pipe. Thepipe in this position (see Figure 1) is passed into the opening made bythe grooves of the segment f and pressure roller is upon the mandrel Zand over the mandrel rod 072 until it reaches the position illustratedin Figures 2 and 5, having also passed through a loop w mounted on aboss w formed on the front face of the segment and adjustable by a screwQ02. In this posi tion the pipe rests on the supporting roller 71 whichwas previously adjusted to position to suit the pipe, and is held up bythe block and cable mechanism suspended from trolley cZ. The pipe at itsforward end is now released from its supporting tackle and securelyclamped to the segment by turning up the screw 10 and is ready to bebent. Water is now admitted into cylinder 2" in the manner described,forcing up the pressure roller is and firmly holding the pipe at thepoint wherein is the mandrel against the segment. Water is now admittedinto cylinder h in the manner described, which forces up the rack bar gand oscillates the segment rack carrying with it the shaft 6 and segmentf. The pipe is drawn along with the segment until the limit of the bendis reached, and for a full bend of ninety degrees the segment is stoppedby the head of the piston coming in contact with a cross step c on theframe (see Figure 7). If a bend of less than ninety degrees is desired,a stop bar m (Figure 5) of a suitable length and marked with the numberof degrees the pipe is to be bent, is secured to the rack bar prior tothe operation and by its contact with the stop 00, the degree of bend isactually determined. Should abend of more than ninety degrees berequired, as indicated by dot-ted line Z in Figure 10, the supportingroller n is adjusted by means of the screw 1; any predetermined distancehigherthan for a, ninety degree bend and the mandrel land rod 127.correspondingly adjusted by moving the screw m higher up, thus tiltingthe forward end of the mandrel downward, and consequently giving theunbent pipe a position at an inclination to the horizontal with itsforward end lowest. The full movement of the segment now is made whichcarries the forward end of the pipe to a perpendicular position or morethan ninety degrees from the position in which the unbent portion of thepipe is held, thus bending beyond the ninety degrees.

After any bend is completed, the loop 00 is loosened and removed, thepressure roller lowered and the hook u engaged in the ring o and thepipe drawn out far enough to engage the loop u about it (see Figure 4)when it may be removed to any desired position, and the plug 2; removedfrom it.

To lower the rack bar, the pressure is exhausted from cylinder itthrough pipes z' and and w by opening a valve 00 and to lower thepressure roller 70 pressure is exhausted from cylinder 2" through pipesj and y by opening a valve y. Both the pipes 2' and 1' contain a specialform of check valve g shown in enlarged view in Figure 14, whichcontains a valve proper g against which the water pressure is applied,and having a small hole 3 therethrough with an adjustable disk y pivotedthereto and bearing holes 3 of different sizes to register with theholes 3/ of the valve. This construction affords means for adjusting thesize of the opening and the supply of Water through the valve forraising the piston while the valve is down. The return of the pistons ispermitted by the operation of the valves 00 and which exhausts the watermore quickly with the raising of the valve 3 from its seat thus insuringa quick lowering motion to the piston of either cylinder, which speedmay be regulated by the adjustment of screw Should it be deemeddesirable to heata pipe before bending, I provide a gas jet y fedthrough a pipe 2 (see Figure 5) or an electric heater as shown in Figure15, the flame of both of which bears against the bottom side of the pipeand heats it, While the segment is cooled by passing water through achamber z formed init(see Figures 5, 6, 9 and 10) the water beingadmitted through .2 (Figure 3) through a flexible hose connected withpipe 2 (the pressure in which is shown on gage 2*) and dischargedthrough opening .2 through a flexible connection with any suitable wastepipe.

Instead of a gas jet or electric heater I may use a furnace or heatingchamber 2, (see Figure 4) for heating the bottom of the pipe beforepassing it into the machine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have constructed a verticallyoperating machine which is so arranged and balanced that a singlecylinder may be employed for operating the bending segment, and thatwhen the pressure is released therefrom it will automatically return toits normal position.

While I have specifically described the construction, arrangement andoperation of the various parts composing my machine, I desire it to beunderstood that I do not limit myself thereto, it being obvious to thoseskilled in the art that many changes and variations might be madetherefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a pivoted groovedsegment, a similarly grooved pressure roller mounted in the same plane,a mandrel normally held in horizontal 2. In a pipe bending machine thecombination of a pivoted grooved segment, a similarly grooved pressureroller mounted in the same plane, a mandrel normally held in positionbetween the segment and roller, means for clamping a pipe held on themandrel to the front edge of the segment, hydraulic means foroscillating the segment, and stops to limit the oscillation for varyingthe extent of the bending automatically, substantially as described.

3. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a shaft, a groovedsegment secured thereto,agrooved pressure roller co-operating with thesegment to hold a pipe between them, means for clamping the pipe to theforward edge of the segment, a segmental rack on the shaft, a rack barengaging therewith, and means for reciprocating the rack bar tooscillate the segmental rack, the shaft and the grooved segment,substantially as described.

4. In a pipe bending machine, the combina- -tion of a shaft carrying abending segment, a

segmental rack secured to the shaft, a rack bar engaging the segmentalrack, a piston and rod upon which said rack .bar is secured, a mandrelmeans for moving the piston to oscillate the segment, and a rigid stopto limit the extent of said oscillation, and adjustable means to varythe angle of the mandrel, substantially as described.

5. In apipe bending machine, the combination of an oscillatory groovedsegment, a pressure roller co-operating therewith, a mandrel normallyheld in horizontal position between the roller and segment, andadjustable means for holding the mandrel in the plane of the bend,substantially as described.

6. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a co-operating groovedsegment and grooved pressure roller, a post, a screw verticallyadjustable in the post, means for securing it when adjusted, a rodpivotally secured to the screw, and a mandrel pivotally secured to therod and resting between the segment and pressure roller, substantiallyas described.

7. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a co-operating groovedsegment and grooved pressure roller, a post, a screw verticallyadjustable in the post, means for securing it when adjusted, a rodpivotally secured to the screw, a mandrel pivotally securedto the rodand resting between the segment and pressure roller, and an adjustablesupporting roller in the plane of the segment and pressure roller,substantially as described.

8. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of an oscillatory groovedsegment, a mandrel, a grooved pressure roller co-operating with thesegment to hold a pipe on the mandrel between them, and electric meansfor locally heating one side of the pipe while on the mandrel,substantially as described.

9. In a pipe bending machine, the combina tion of an oscillatory groovedsegment, a mandrel, a grooved pressure roller co-operating with thesegment to hold a pipe on the mandrel between them, means for heatingone side, and means for cooling the other side of the pipe while on themandrel, substantially as described.

10. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of an oscillatory groovedsegment, a mandrel, a grooved pressure roller co-operating with thesegment to hold a pipe on the mandrel between them, and means forcooling the segment to cool the contacting pipe, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a pipe bending machine, the com bination of an oscillatorygrooved segment, a mandrel, a grooved pressure roller co-operating withthe segment to hold a pipe on the mandrel between them, and means forheating one side of the pipe, and means for cooling the segment to coolthe other side of the pipe, substantially as described.

12. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a vertically operatingsegment grooved in its periphery to conform to the section of pipe, asimilarly grooved presser roller in line with and fixed beneath thesegment, a mandrel interposed between the segment and presser roller,means for clamping a pipe to the segment, and hydraulic means foroscillating the segment to draw the pipe against and over the rollerwith the movement of the segment.

13. In a pipe bending machine,the combination with a suitable frame, ofa shaft mounted therein carrying a bending segment, a segmental racksecured to the shaft, a rack bar engaging the segmental rack, a guidestop for the rack arranged between side standards of the frame, a pistonupon which said rack bar is secured, a cylinder for moving the piston tooscillate the segment, tie rods interposed between the cylinder and theguide stop for the rack, substantially as described.

14. Inapipe bending machine, the combination of a frame comprising inpart standards with brackets projecting therefrom, a guide stop securedintermediate of said brackets tie rods interposed between said bracketsand the base of the frame to strengthen the structure, a shaft journaledin the standards carrying a bending segment, a segmental rack secured tothe shaft, a rack engaging the segmental rack, a piston connected withthe rack, and means for moving the piston to oscillate the segment,substantially as described.

15. lnapipe bending machine, the combination of a shaft carrying abending segment, a

segmental rack secured to the shaft, a rack bar engaging the segmentalrack, a piston upon which said rack bar is secured, means for moving thepiston to oscillate the segment, and stops for varying the stroke of thepiston and the oscillatory movement of the segment to bend a pipe .toany degree desired.

.16. In a pipe bending machine, the combination of a segment grooved inits periphery to conform to a section of pipe, a similarly groovedhydraulic presser roller carried in a head and mounted in the plane ofthe segment, a fixed bracket adjacent to the roller, a brace interposedbetween the brackets and head to stiffen the latter, a mandrel arrangedbetween the segment and roller, and hydraulic means for moving thesegment and pipe forward against the roller to bend and form the pipe.

17. Ina pipe bending machine, the combination of a vertically operatingsegment grooved 'in its periphery to conform to a section of pipe, asimilarly grooved roller in line with the segment, a segmental rackconnected with the segment, a single cylinder for operating said rackand segment in a forward direction, said parts being so arrangedvertically as to return to a normal position by gravity when thepressureof the cylinder is released.

18. In apipe bending machine, the combination of a grooved segmentmounted vertically on a horizontal shaft, a segmental rack mounted uponthe same shaft-extended from an adjoining quarter, a rack and pistonhung vertically from said segmental rack to operate the same in aforward direction by pressure and in a backward direction to a normalposition by reason of the excessive weight of thekrack and pistoncarried on the segmental rac IIO 19. Ina pipe bending machine thecombination with a bending segment operating in a vertical plane, of arack and actuating hydraulic cylinder and piston for operating thesegment and a check valve feeding the cylinder with liquid having asmall feed passage therethrough and adapted to give a quick exhaust ofthe liquid whereby the segment-operating piston of the cylinder willhavea slow feed and a quick return by gravity.

20. In a pipe bending machine the combination with a bending segment anda rack and hydraulic cylinder and piston for operating the bendingsegment in a vertical plane, of

a single supply and exhaust pipe for the cylinder and a valve in 'saidpipe having a small and adjustable passage therethrough to feed theliquid, and being capable of raising as a whole to allow a quickescapement and return of the piston and bending segment by gravity.

In testimony whereof I have hereunder signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

GEO. H. REYNOLDS. Witnesses:

G. H. MITCHELL, R. O. MITCHELL.

